Posted in: Games, Video Games | Tagged: Judgment, Pierre Taki, sega, yakuza

Sega Has Already Replaced Character Model Pierre Taki in Judgment

SEGA recently pulled Yakuza spinoff Judgment from the shelves in Japan after character model Pierre Taki was arrested on drug-related charges.

According to IGN, SEGA has already completed replacement work on the character Kyohei Hamura, who will now sport an original character design.

From IGN:

The character of Tojo Clan affiliate member Kyohei Hamura, who was previously voiced by Taki and based on his likeness, will be replaced as a newly designed original model when the game eventually goes back on sale in Japan. The Western release date of June 25 will not be affected.

"We've already finished replacing it," Yakuza Studio head Toshihiro Nagoshi told IGN last week, just 14 days after the initial March 13 announcement. "It's an original character this time, not a performance capture. You'll have to wait to see what he looks like."

Commenting on the work involved in the replacement process, producer Kazuki Hosokawa explained, "First of all we had to replace the character model and re-record all of the dialogue. But replacing the character model is only the start: We had to change all of the pre-rendered cut scenes Hamura appeared in; also, his face appears on some of the evidence that you present on your smartphone, so we had to replace those textures; and some trophies had to be changed too."

Replacing Taki was a decent bit of work, but it's been completed quickly, meaning the game should be back on shelves shortly. The quick work should also mean the Western version releases on schedule.

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